KARACHI: Director of the Karachi Zoo Khalid Hashmi was suspended by Sindh Minister for Information Syed Nasir Hussain Shah under charges of receiving an extra amount for the parking fee.
During a visit to Karachi Zoo (today ) on Sunday, Nasir Shah took the notice of a complaint regarding Rs100 being charged for the parking fee at the Karachi Zoo rather than the amount approved by the Sindh government that is Rs 30.
The provincial minister also directed police concerned to arrest the parking staffers over their involvement in the entire matter. He instructed SSP South to arrest parking staff and files a case against them.
Sources said Nasir Hussain Shah visited the zoo after reports of irregularities at zoos have been reported from time to time.
Earlier, massive irregularities had been revealed in the Karachi Zoological Gardens and Landhi Zoo managed by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) which has placed the animals at risk of starvation while many of the funds have been allegedly embezzled.
Sources had informed that the Karachi Zoo is unable to secure Rs3 crores annually required for animal food which has put them at risk of starvation.
Many animals have not been fed properly for the past few months as the management has not paid dues to contractors who have threatened to stop supplies.
These irregularities had been ongoing since September 2020 but the administrator had not taken notice of media reports, sources said. The KMC had a target of Rs77 crores for Karachi, Landhi and Korangi for the fiscal year 2018-19 which was not achieved and only Rs58 crores were collected.
During the ongoing fiscal year starting June 2020, only 21 crores have collected while the target which Rs95 crores is also expected to be missed.
